So the claims that Japan has the highest life expectancy are possibly rubbish.

Anything's possible but it's highly unlikely because those registries have absolutely nothing to do with how life expectancy is computed. (I'm pretty sure Japanese life insurance companies aren't counting on some people living to 150 based on the fact that a few family registries haven't been updated.)

So the last person to be born in the 19th century would have been born on December 31st 1899, and will therefore be 114 years old on December 31st 2013. They will currently be 113 years old. (I'm going against the idea that the 19th century ended on December 31st 1900. Little Dennis made a mistake by not including a Year Zero, to me).

How many people are 113 years old at the moment? How many people are 112 years old, if you think that 1900 should be part of the 19th century?

My grandfather's cousin is alive at at 102 years of age (even though she now is more tired than she used to be). She's the great great grandmother of a five-year-old girl, which also is amazing. Not everybody lives to see a great great grandchild!

The Guardian has a video regarding a 115-year-old Chinese woman who wishes to be considered the world's oldest living person.

Quote:

A 115-year-old woman from southwest China has applied for a Guinness World Record naming her as the world's oldest living person. Fu Suqing, from Chengdu, Sichuan, remains in good health despite having depleting hearing and eyesight. Suqing was born in 1897 and she has 48 grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren

I have looked at the Wiki page, and have previously noticed that Chinese residents don't seem to be represented. I have wondered if it's because of a lack of verifiable records, or a lack of cooperation from the Chinese authorities, or ??? But at any rate, I think it would be cool if the records of this Chinese woman can be verified so to be added to the list.

My grandfather's cousin is alive at at 102 years of age (even though she now is more tired than she used to be). She's the great great grandmother of a five-year-old girl, which also is amazing. Not everybody lives to see a great great grandchild!

Alexander Imich, a Polish-born psychic researcher who was certified the oldest man on earth, died Sunday morning at a senior residence in Manhattan. He had turned 111 on Feb. 4.

Mr. Imich became the world’s oldest validated male supercentenarian (those over 110), according to the Gerontology Research Group of Torrance, Calif., when the previous record-holder, Arturo Licata of Italy, died on April 24 at 111 years and 357 days.